Parking system is still catching out hospital visitors

PATIENTS and visitors to Burton’s Queen’s Hospital are continuing to be left baffled by its new parking system.

Countless people have hit out at the hospital after being issued with parking fines having been caught out by the system which many have argued is difficult to use.

Disgruntled motorists have are continuing to contact the Mail complaining that they have been treated unfairly.

Bosses at the hospital said the review into the system, which was introduced at the end of October, is still ongoing, but insist people are slowly getting to grips with it with complaints gradually beginning to fall.

The hospital has urged anyone who thinks they have been unjustly served with a fine to appeal the decision.

Sharon Drakeley has been a regular visitor to the hospital during the last 12 months.

She received a fine after accidentally entering her registration plate number incorrectly.

Malcolm Gee, from Newhall, encountered the same problem, and was unhappy when he too was fined.

Both have appealed their fines.

Mrs Drakeley, from Church Leigh, near Uttoxeter, said: “I had paid enough for two hours and I was in there for 51 minutes. Then a few days later I received a parking fine for £70.”

She believes the new system is too complicated, adding: “It is affecting a lot of people. Normally when you’re paying for a parking ticket, you get it there and then.

“The letters from Parking Eye are quite menacing. It would be a lot easier for everyone if you could pay the exact amount for the time they have been there.”

Mr Gee sent a copy of his receipt of payment and subsequent fine to the Mail.

He was unaware he had done anything wrong.

Helen Ashley, chief executive of the trust which runs Queen’s Hospital, said: “The trust reviewed staff, patient and visitor feedback regarding facilities, including parking and users are now becoming more familiar with inputting their car registration numbers, leading to a significant reduction in the number of appeals.

“We understand that genuine mistakes still may be made, however, so Parking Eye operates a fair and audited appeals process and encourages people to appeal if they feel there are mitigating circumstances.”